When and how is the proper feeding of grapes carried out?

Grapes - a plant quite unassuming. It can grow even in poor rocky soil. However, its yield will not be very high. Therefore, having decided to plant a vine on the site, it is important to be able to properly care for it. Every experienced gardener knows what is needed in order for grapes to bear fruit well: top dressing in spring and summer, as well as in autumn using certain fertilizers. But newbies don't know much about it. An article will tell about how to grow healthy and high-yielding bushes in a summer cottage.

Best of all, the plant bears fruit on land rich in nutrients. But after a certain period, the soil is depleted, loses its nutritional properties. This significantly affects the yield of horticultural crops. Especially in grapes. It begins to develop poorly, becomes more vulnerable to adverse climatic influences. In this case, feeding the grapes saves the plant.

This shrub has one feature: at different stages of growth, different nutrients are needed and in different quantities. Having applied mineral fertilizers several times during the season, the summer resident is unlikely to achieve the desired result.

Experienced vineyards have been figuring out for a long time what microelements a crop needs, how they affect its growth and development. And we came to the conclusion that the plant requires the following components:

1. Potassium. It accelerates the ripening of berries.
2. Nitrogen. Leads to the growth of green mass.
3. Bor. It allows you to increase the sugar content of fruits, and also accelerates ripening.
4. Copper. Enhances shoot growth. Increases drought resistance and frost resistance.
5. Zinc. It has a good effect on productivity.
6. Phosphorus. Improves the formation of ovaries, fruit ripening.

When is feeding done?

Caring for grapes without top dressing is not complete. The amount of dressing depends on the age of the shrub. For example, annual vines are fertilized twice a year: the first time when the shoots reach a height of 15 centimeters. Then the grapes are fertilized in July or August. If the plant has already begun to bear fruit, useful substances are applied three times: in spring, summer and autumn. Check out the article:

Spring

The main goal pursued by the feeding of grapes in the spring is the saturation of the soil with all the microelements necessary for good fruiting.

Fertilize for the first time in early spring, immediately after wintering. Usually, this is the beginning of April. But it all depends on the region. For example, in the southern regions, this procedure is done earlier. Time is required to choose in such a way that the plantings have not yet begun sap flow. Mix superphosphate, ammonium nitrate and potassium salt. Dilute it all in water. The resulting solution is fed to the shrub.

The second time, spring top dressing of grapes is carried out 2 weeks before flowering. And this is the middle of May, the period of active vegetation. Use the same solution. The third time - before the fruit ripens - the soil is fertilized with products that contain potassium and phosphorus.

Suitable for spring fertilizer are single-component minerals: ammonium nitrate, potassium chloride, potassium salt and superphosphates. Complex compositions are also used. For example, Kemira, Novofert, Florovit and Aquarin. Some gardeners use liquid manure instead of mineral fertilizers during spring feeding of plants. It contains phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Promotes better absorption of trace elements by the roots. For this, about a kilogram of substance is needed per square meter of area with plantings. You can replace manure with compost. It is advisable to alternate different nutrients, so the shrub will bear fruit better.

Summer

Not everyone has the desire and ability to buy ready-made fertilizer preparations. Some use more budget options. Thinking about how to feed the grapes in June with folk remedies, many summer residents decide to use it. So popular is the fermented herbal infusion with the addition of ash and water. This is both more economical and no less useful for the plant than factory products.

Many gardeners know that feeding young grapes in summer improves the condition of the fruit crop. It is used for those plants that are characterized by a small increase or an excessively heavy yield load. For this purpose, ammonium nitrate, superphosphates and potassium salt are mixed. Add water. If there is wood ash, it is better to replace salt with it. Nitrogenous substances are not used. They slow down the ripening of fruits.

It should be noted that top dressing of grapes with ashes in summer gives quite good results. After all, ash is a perfectly balanced complex of substances that are so necessary for good growth. It contains potassium, which is very useful for the vine. All elements are enough for a long time: the action of ash lasts for 2-4 years. Moreover, they are assimilated in the amount that the culture needs at the moment. But experienced gardeners say that with regular and long-term use of large amounts of ash, there is a risk of chlorosis, so ash should be used in moderation.

Often, grapes are fertilized in the summer before flowering. For this, mineral elements are usually used. It is good to treat the bushes with fungicides. For example, Ridomil Gold and Topaz. Indeed, during the flowering period, the plant is affected by various diseases.

In summer, the soil should contain nitrogen, boron, zinc, phosphorus, calcium and iron. Therefore, thinking about how you can feed the grapes in the summer, you should choose drugs with the above elements. So the plant will grow quite tall and will often bear fruit. With weak maturation, potassium monophosphate and Plantafol are added to the soil.

Fertilization of grapes continues in the month of July, during the period of active development of the vine. Knowing how to feed the grapes in July, the summer resident manages to achieve a quality harvest. The drug Plantafol-ovary has proven itself well. It is designed to stimulate the growth of berries. Gardeners are advised to combine fertilizer with watering. To do this, take a solution of fermented grass. For 10 liters of water, 2 liters of infusion are required. Mineral complex fertilizers are added to it: about 5 grams. Potassium sulphate is also added: 2 grams.
This mixture is enough for 3 square meters of planting. It is used both for still very young seedlings, and for adult bushes. A similar procedure is repeated weekly if the summer is dry.

When deciding how to feed the grapes after flowering, it is worth giving preference to liquid organic matter. For example, chicken manure. You will need a bucket of manure and 3 buckets of water. The mixture is infused for 7 days. The resulting solution is used as follows. One liter is diluted in 10 liters of water. And in this form fertilize the shrub.

The grapes are fertilized after flowering according to the following algorithm:

Gardeners, as a result of many years of experience, have developed a scheme for summer top dressing. It consists in the following:

Autumn

Experienced summer residents know that autumn feeding of grapes is an important stage in caring for a plant.

After active fruiting, the bush needs to replenish the spent forces. It is important to prepare the vine for the winter period and the new season. Fertilizers are applied in early September. Most suitable foliar top dressing. Of the trace elements, potassium salt and superphosphate are used. Manganese sulfate, boric acid, potassium iodine, zinc sulfate, ammonium molybdate are also added to the mixture. Make preparations either in dry form, or prepare a solution.

Bird droppings, manure, compost are also used. Once every 3 years, it is recommended to fertilize the vine with potassium phosphate preparations. If the autumn feeding of grapes in winter is carried out correctly, the shrub will enter fully prepared and will easily survive the cold season.

What is foliar nutrition?

Foliar top dressing of grapes, which is more often carried out in the spring, helps to increase productivity. But it can be carried out in summer or autumn. This is a great addition to the main feeding. The peculiarity lies in the fact that all useful substances come through the leaves. After all, it is known that grape leaves have an excellent ability to absorb all components diluted with water. In addition to fertility, a plant treated with this method becomes more resistant to various kinds of ailments and pests.

Spraying with a special solution is carried out until flower buds appear. Thus, their premature shedding is prevented. Increases this type of feeding and the number of ovaries. The second time the treatment is done during the flowering period. And in the end, the grapes are fed in the summer during the ripening of the berries. The second and third bait should not contain nitrogen.

Foliar top dressing of grapes in June is carried out using solutions of micro and macro fertilizers. They are sold in specialized stores. Irrigation of leaves is best done in the evening or morning hours. It is advisable to choose calm days. In cloudy weather, the procedure is carried out even during the day. The fulfillment of these conditions allows you to reduce the likelihood of leaf burns to zero. In order for the leaves to better absorb the components, it is recommended to add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the solution.